A Disturbing Night in Iraq: Witnessing the Abuse of 'Insurgent' Prisoners

[kpete]

A Disturbing Night in Iraq: Witnessing the Abuse of 'Insurgent' Prisoners
Submitted by Chip on Sun, 2008-12-28 18:46.

Note: This report is 3 months old, but is re-published for its' first hand account of US treatment of Iraqi detainees. ~Chip :)

This story was written in the early days of September, 2008; about the night that I encountered questionable treatment of Iraqi prisoners, while flying in a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter from Fallujah, to Balad, Iraq.

I have delayed publishing it, but more revelations today about the authorized torture and abuse of prisoners in Iraq by Bush Administration officials caused us to make the decision to release this.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38523

The prisoners in the row were forced to point their faces toward the floor and each time one tried to straighten his neck, it was almost immediately jerked downward by the two contractors, one of which was a male and one female.

If the men tried to straighten their legs they were put back into place by the contractors boots for the first part of the flight, and by the hands of the contractors during what seemed to be the second half of the flight. I assumed that they became increasingly aware of my presence on the helicopter and I suspect this may have kept their behavior greatly in check.

I was shocked that I had been manifested aboard this Army bird and in the end I think it was purely a matter of fate.

The prisoners cried and moaned and the sounds emerging from beneath their hooded faces rose above the shrill of the turbines. The air crew smiled and conversed and drank water to ensure their own comfort; none was given to the prisoners. Two of these hooded men drew the wrath of the contractors more than the others, and at one point a soldier sitting near me called a contractor over because a prisoner seated almost directly across from me appeared to go limp.
more at:
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/december122008/insurgent_abuse_iraq_12-12-08.php

[Joe Chi Minh]

1. Beyond monstrous? Just 3 months ago, too.

[knowbody0]

2. the largest expense in this ridiculous occupation

is the independent contractors. they work for US. we pay them. in the end, these are OUR actions.

happy new year?